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GEOGRAPHY

Area 10,689 sq.km. A narrow 400 km-long riverine enclave that virtually divides Senegal's Casamance from the rest of the country.

Capital Banjul 270,540. Urbanites 37%. Half the population lives in the greater Banjul area.

PEOPLES

Over 25 ethnic groups which are very intermingled.

Mande 44%. Mandinka (Mandingo) 445,000; Soninke 100,000.

West African 54%. Fulbe(3) 211,000; Wolof 164,000; Jola 120,000; Tukulor 75,000; Serer 32,000; Manjako 21,000.

Other 2%. Maure 17,000; Aku (English-speaking Creole) 10,400; Nigerians, Sierra Leoneans, etc.

Literacy 38%. Official language English. Trade languages Mandinka, Wolof. All languages 20. Languages with Scriptures 3Bi 3NT 3por 6w.i.p.

ECONOMY

Subsistence agriculture and dependent on groundnut cultivation, tourism, foreign aid and extensive smuggling over the porous border with Senegal. HDI 0.391; 163^rd/174. Public debt 106% of GNP. Income/person $320 (1.1% of USA).

POLITICS

Independent from Britain in 1965. Senegalese intervention to quell the 1981 coup resulted in abortive efforts to create a Senegambian confederacy which finally collapsed in 1989. A military coup in 1994 and military government was later transformed into a civilian democracy. Elections are due in 2001.

RELIGION

Relative religious freedom with easy-going tolerance between communities despite the large Muslim majority.

Missionaries from The Gambia
P,I,A 5 in 2 agencies.

Missionaries to The Gambia
P,I,A 134 in 20 agencies from 16 countries: USA 49, Korea 15, UK 13, Nigeria 13, Germany 12.

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Challenges for Prayer

1 Islam is dominant, yet the land remains open for the gospel. Little effort has ever been directed at reaching the Muslim majority and converts from Islam have been few – but their numbers are increasing. The Mandinka, made famous by Alex Haley's book 'Roots', are a key people. Pray for continued freedom to witness and for openness of heart for Muslims to receive the truth.

2 Islam is gradually gaining ground with the last few pockets of uncommitted animist peoples now becoming Muslim. Saudi Arabia has given much financial aid to the country with Islamic 'strings' attached. There is little Christian witness in the up-river towns and villages, though this is increasing. Pray for significant numbers of Muslim families from all ethnic groups to be drawn to Christ, and thus reverse this trend.

3 There was much nominalism in the mainline denominations and evangelical believers were few. This is changing as some leaders seek to bring renewal to the Church and many nominal Christians are coming to new life in Christ. Pray for increased momentum and zeal for growth.

4 Missionary work in the Gambia was pioneered by the Anglicans and Methodists. Much of their work was confined to the Aku (Creole-speaking descendants of freed slaves in Banjul). Catholics and Methodists have impacted the Jola and both have Manjako congregations. Many newer Nigerian, Ghanaian and Liberian ministries have begun, but most are working more amongst the nominally Christian groups and expatriates than the indigenous Muslim peoples. Pray that all churches may see results among the Muslim majority.

5 Ministries specifically concentrating on the non-Christian majority are few. WEC and the ECG Church have planted congregations with converts from Muslim backgrounds. There are also effective medical, agricultural, educational, literacy and rural development programmes. Other significant ministries include the ABWE and IMB-SBC. Pray for sensitivity and wisdom in these ministries, and also for visas for new missionaries. Pray too that God might raise up of Gambian believers to take on the roles long borne by missionaries.

6 Young people have flocked to Banjul's suburban areas seeking work. Ministry among them was pioneered by GAMFES(IFES) in 1996. SU and YFC have thriving ministries in the Banjul area. Most youth work is in the capital and outlying areas (SU, IMB-SBC, WEC, YFC and Korean missionaries), though WEC also has ministry inland.

7 Specialized Christian ministries:

a) Prison evangelism has been particularly fruitful. Pray both for conversions and for the integration of converts into their communities and churches on their release.

b) The JESUS film has been shown all over the country in several languages. Pray for the disarming of misconceptions about the person of Jesus through this ministry.

c) Christian radio. Chronological Bible teaching, The Righteous Way, has been recorded in two languages (Wolof, Mandinka) and is broadcast on national radio. Recordings in Fulbe and Jola are being made.

d) Christian television programmes. Abiding Word Ministries, the Gambia Christian Council, YFC and others have gained wide acceptance for the gospel through their appreciated weekly TV programmes. Pray for lasting fruit.

e) GRN has provided the gospel message on tape in 16 languages of the Gambia.

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